Doing Jesus’ Beating For Him: The Fate Of The Foolish Servant

 

Does Jesus deal with His servants harshly? Is He always gentle? Who is appointed to administer harsh discipline from God? Do you have the right to use any amount of force you choose to administer correction to those placed under your authority? And if you force those you’ve been entrusted with into submission, what are the consequences for you?

Join Monica Dennington as she goes straight to the Bible to show the shocking action Jesus will take if He finds you doing His beating for Him.

________________________________________

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.”

Luke 12:48b

________________________________________

Tonight we are talking about doing Jesus’ beating for Him: The fate of the foolish servant. We are going to talk about what God expects out of you when he gives you authority. Last week we talked about how God wants you to invest your money, but what we are going to talk about today is how you handle the people that have been put into your life, and specifically the people that God has given you authority over in your life. That is something that is very dear to God’s heart, and he is going to be looking very carefully at how you handle those relationships and how you rule over that which has been entrusted to you, especially when you are talking about people. Because the most important thing to God in the world is people. He so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that anyone who wants to can be saved, can have eternal life. [Caption: John 3:16 (NIV)] So this is what is really going to hit on God’s heart tonight.

We’ve been talking about the different parables of the stewards or the managers, and looking at this picture of God, or the master, leaving, and leaving someone in charge for a time to see how they will manage those assets that are put under their care. And then he comes back — but whenever he comes back, he comes back unexpectedly so that he can see what you are really going to do when he’s out of the room.

I’m going to read to you again another scripture that talks about this idea. This is Luke 12:35-48, “‘Get dressed for service and keep your lamps burning; be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.’ Then Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’ The Lord replied, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns. I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave should say to himself, ‘My master is delayed in returning,’ and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk, then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know his master’s will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.’” Luke 12:35-48 (NET)

God’s kingdom is coming and he’s looking for trustworthy servants who will administer that kingdom faithfully. So when God gives you authority on the earth, it is not to glorify you — it’s to test you. So if you want to impress God — if you want to be found to be that wise, faithful manager — first of all, you need to find out about that character of God and you need to know the principles of God’s kingdom and understand those principles. Because if you know those things, then you will be able to apply them to whatever he has entrusted to you.

First of all, understand that God’s kingdom is a kingdom of servant-rulers that is modeled as a family, and this is different from the kingdom of the world. In the kingdom of the world — Satan’s kingdom — the strong rule over the weak; the strong oppress the weak. Those who have advantages in this world will take advantage of those who don’t. And so there is injustice and inequality in the kingdom of the world. We see that all over the place — we see that some people have way more then they need to eat and some people are starving; the rich very often build their wealth on the backs of workers that aren’t paid enough to even live a decent life – just to have their basic needs met. These are the results of the kingdom of the world. That’s why we don’t want anything to do with that kingdom. In order to be different, we have to understand what principles are different in God’s kingdom.

So first of all, understand that the way that the weak are treated is going to be a marker that’s going to tell you whether you’re dealing with the kingdom of Satan or the kingdom of God. In God’s kingdom, the weak are treated with respect and they are highly valued. In fact, the weakest members of a family – the children – are the treasure of the family, aren’t they? In a functional family unit, the children have to obey their parents, they’re under their parents’ authority, and yet the parents will lay down their lives for those children. They’ll go work hard every day to give them every opportunity so they can, maybe, go further than the parents did. That’s our heart toward our children.

In the kingdom of God, that’s the heart towards every weak member; every regular person, every servant is that valued. And that is why it is such an extraordinary kingdom to be a part of. It’s very different from the world, isn’t it? So understand, the greater take care of the weaker; they don’t take advantage of them. They take care of them and they build them up until they are ready to take responsibility of an inheritance of their own. And in this model, there is no slavery. You may tell your kids to go do the dishes – that doesn’t mean that they’re slaves. They’re free. Yes, they have responsibilities. Yes, they work hard. But there is no slavery in this model, in this kingdom.

Also understand, God does not force the submission of His subjects. This is very important for you to understand so that you don’t become like this wicked servant. Whenever his master was away, he didn’t administer what was trusted to him the way that the master would. He administered it according to the principles of the world. He started taking advantage of the ones he had power over, and he started beating the servants. He wasn’t given permission to beat the servants, but he started forcing their submission. Now, he was given authority. He was supposed to be giving them their food at the proper time — but as we can tell, the master was not pleased when he came back and found that this wicked servant had been forcing them into submission.
The citizens of this kingdom are free and it must be that way because forced submission creates slaves. A kingdom built on the backs of slaves is divided, and will eventually fall. God’s kingdom is built and maintained not by slaves that are forced into submission but by free citizens who choose to serve their King of their own free will. And they also choose to serve each other because that is the King’s command and because they love one another. We do our acts of service. We work hard. We work just as hard as any slave, just as hard as any servant. But we don’t do it because we are forced to do it, we do it because that is our heart. Just like you do in a family — you work hard for one another…not because you have to; not because you are forced to; but because that’s what you want to do.

So you see the vast difference there. So understand that when you have people that are given to you that you have authority over, that you are stronger than, that you have power over, or that you could potentially take power over — you need to understand that you have to operate according to this principle in order to be pleasing to God. If you are forcing and manipulating people into obedience to scripture, then you are just creating slaves. You know that’s what the law was all about, and Jesus made it very clear that we are not subject to that law anymore. We are now free from that law because it just brings sin and death. [Caption: Romans 8:2 (NET)] Why? Because it’s bad to do the right thing? No! But when you force someone into submission with a law, which is a hard law that says, ‘I’m going to punish you if you don’t do what I want you to do’, you’re not giving them the chance to make a choice. If you are a husband, you have responsibility for your wife, your children; if you are a spiritual leader, you have responsibility for the people who are listening to you teach and that you are leading spiritually; that does not mean that you have the right to force them into submission. If you do that, you are working against the kingdom because you are creating slaves.

The reason that Satan’s kingdom is falling — you know, God is allowing the Antichrist to come to power, he’s allowing evil to come into full bloom so that we can see what is the end result of all this sin stuff. And the end result of all this is that it’s going to implode on itself, it’s going to fall because you’re always going to have rebellion where you have slavery. People aren’t happy being slaves. They want to serve; they want to work; but they don’t want to do it because they are forced to. People want that freedom, because we were created for freedom. We were created for love, and you don’t give people the opportunity to do things out of the motivation of love when you force them into submission. You have to back off a little bit and give them a choice. Now yes you have responsibilities; you carry out those responsibilities. But you do it in such a way that you’re not beating the servants into submission. You don’t have permission to do that.

I’m going to read to you Jeremiah 22:13-17, and this is going to tell you about two kinds of rulers. And we are going to see these two different kingdoms again. It says: “Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his own people work for nothing, not paying them for their labor. He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.’ So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar and decorates it in red. ‘Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?’ declares the Lord. ‘But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion.” Jeremiah 22:13-17 (NIV)

Did you hear what he just said? He said, “Is that not what it means to know me?” How many of you want to know God? You really get to know someone when you work with them, ladies and gentlemen. God has given you the opportunity to come with Him and to work with Him – to work by his side according to his principles, according to His orders. He’s left you in charge of something here, and he wants to work with you. He’s saying “if you do these things according to my principles; if you take care of the poor and the needy; if you don’t oppress the poor, if you do these things – your father did them and all went well with him. What’s wrong with doing it this way? ” [Caption: Jeremiah 22:15b-16 (NET)] And isn’t that what it means to know me? When you do things God’s way, you’re going to get to know him and understand him in an intimate way that you can’t know when you are acting like this stupid wicked servant over here who’s just interested in shedding innocent blood, oppression, and extortion. [Caption: Jeremiah 22:17 (NET)] Making people do what he wants to do, building glory for himself, sitting back and eating and drinking and getting drunk and just focusing on himself and the things that he wants in this very temporary life, in this very temporary time. [Caption: Matthew 24:48a, 49b-50a, 51b (NIV)]

Understand that it is in the little decisions that you make every day that you begin to know him. Sometimes we think we need to go out and find some mystical experience, some secret thing. It is a secret — but it’s a secret because most people don’t want to humble themselves to do the simple things that God said to do. You will be so amazed when you begin to obey in the little things that Jesus told you to do in the small area that God has given you authority over in your life. Day by day, decision by decision, this is how you come to know him. This is what it means to know him.

So understand, what does Jesus do? He shows us an image of a King that we have never seen before. [Caption: Psalm 2:1a, 4, 6 (NET)] We have seen glimpses of it in good kings along the way, but he is the perfect image of the King that we have all been looking for. The King that considers others to be so important that he would lay down his life for his own subjects. [Caption: 1 John 3:16 (NIV)] How wonderful is that kind of love? So when he makes other people subject to you, you need to have that same attitude of humility towards them. Jesus could have squashed us into the ground. Even when he was on his way to the cross, it says he could have called down legions of angels — and what do you think the legion of angels would have been doing to the people who were crucifying the King? [Caption: Matthew 26:52-53 (NET)] He was showing mercy. Do you understand that? He could have crushed them into the ground, but he did not. [Caption: Matthew 12:20 (NIV)] What did he say? He said, “Father forgive them, for they don’t even know what they’re doing. [Caption: Luke 23:34a (NET)] So when you are given authority, when you are given power, do it the way Jesus did it, and he’s going to be happy with you.

Understand, anytime God gives you authority, he also gives you a command – to treat those that are underneath you with respect. For example, husbands and wives, in Ephesians 5:22-25: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church—he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.” Ephesians 5:22-25 (NET)

So you’re always going to find this balance whenever he tells one group of people to submit to somebody. When he put somebody in power over them, he also tells that person that’s in charge — You respect those people, you treat them well, you treat them gently, and you give them what they need. You see, what a wife needs is her husband’s love. 1 Peter 3:7 also says, “Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives in consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.” 1 Peter 3:7 (NET). And in the NIV instead of saying ‘show them honor’ it says “treat them with respect”. So you may be saying, “Okay, so I can’t beat my wife,” right? But understand that it goes further than that. God doesn’t want you to manipulate people into obedience. [Caption: 1 Peter 5:3 (NET)] He wants you to give them an example of love, give them strong leadership. Yes, you have to take responsibility to lead your family into righteousness. But you can’t force people into submission and create anything but slaves. So understand, when he says, “husbands love your wives,” he tells the wives — give your husband what he needs. He’s the leader; he needs your support; he needs you to submit to him; he needs you to follow him and have confidence in him. So he’s telling her, “You give him what he needs”, but then he looks at that husband and he says, “And you give her what she needs, because what she needs is your love.”

So understand that one of the ways that you can, as a husband, very easily force your wife into submission is by simply denying her your love, your affection. You guys know that’s an easy way to manipulate your wives. God said to Eve, “Your desire will be for your husband.” What does she want more than anything? She wants your love. But you can’t withhold you love from her in order to get her to do the right thing. That’s not how it’s done. God didn’t do that with you. He didn’t withhold Christ from you and say, “Well when you finally get it right maybe I’ll give you my love.” No! He poured himself out for you even when you didn’t deserve it. Look at what God did with Israel. He poured his love out. He poured his blessing out upon Israel whom he called his wife, his people. And throughout the centuries, what did they do? They strayed from him; they went and bowed down to other idols; they broke his heart; they aroused his jealous anger; they did it over and over. But he did not ever withhold his love. Sometimes he had to take strong action in order to lead them, but he was always there to give them his love. It says ‘the Lord, the Lord, the compassionate, maintaining love to thousands, and slow to anger.’ [Caption: Exodus 34:5b, 6b, 7a (NET)]

So whenever God gives you that authority, he also gives you the balance. And he says you need to respect the ones you are ruling over and you need to give them what they need. What this evil servant was supposed to be doing is giving the other servants their food at the proper time. He was given authority — not to withhold from those servants what they needed, but to give them what they needed in the proper time. So you’re there to provide for the needs of those who have been entrusted to you, not the other way around. [Caption: Matthew 24:45-46 (NET)]

Even in your workplace — if you are a boss; if you are a business owner, you have a certain amount of responsibility and authority over those entrusted to you. And yes, you have to walk in authority and you have to lead. But you also have to remember that you’d better be paying them enough to live with dignity, because if you’re getting rich on the backs of the poor, you’re just like that evil ruler that I just read about. [Caption: Jeremiah 22:13 (NET)]

So this applies everywhere, but in the family, it talks about children. In Satan’s kingdom, the weak are considered not to be that important, right? But whenever everybody brought their children to Jesus, even the disciples — they were learning, all they knew was the kingdom of the world — and they thought, “He’s an important person. Don’t bother the master with those children.” And Jesus rebuked them. He said “No, no, let those children come to me, for such are the kingdom of heaven.”
So you see what God values. He does not treat the weak as though they don’t have any value. That is what he’s all about — building his children up so they can be raised up to maturity, and they can be filled to the fullness with everything that God is. That’s what he’s promised to do for us, and that’s what we are to do for our children. [Caption: Romans 8:19, 21b (NIV)] It says in Ephesians 6, it says “Children, obey your parents,” but then it tells the fathers, Fathers, don’t exasperate your children, but lead them into righteousness. [Caption: Ephesians 6:1, 4 (NET)]

Always, you are going to see that balance that is given to you whenever you are given that authority.

So, remember this: Ephesians 5:21, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” [Caption: Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)] Why would we need to submit to one another, or to treat each other with respect, out of the fear of Christ? Well, what this evil, wicked servant found out is that because he did not have an appropriate fear of the Lord’s sword, he felt the edge of it. And it says that the master will cut that servant in two. That’s a harsh judgment. The best thing that could happen to him is that he’ll be beaten with many blows. But the worst thing that it says could happen is he’s going to be cut into two and be thrown into outer darkness. That’s talking about an eternity without God right there.

You need to have a proper fear of the Lord when God entrusts people to you. You are a manager, not a master. So understand, why does the master leave? Why does he entrust you with something and then come back? Because he wants to see — are you trustworthy with the people that he cares so much about that he died for them? If you beat them, if you treat them without respect when you have not been given permission to do so, then you are going to have a very bad day when you see the King. And that is a bad day that can last forever if you are cast into outer darkness.

So just because she’s your wife doesn’t mean you can treat her however you want, because she has been entrusted to you for a time, and God is watching very carefully what you do with that valuable property. That’s his property bought with a price – not yours. You’re the manager, not the master.

So power does not equal permission. And by the way, I’m not picking on husbands. The reason I am saying that is because husbands, you have been given authority. God has given you authority. he has given you power, and you are born leaders. So you have the most accountability when we are talking about families. But this applies to everyone anywhere, that you have authority over people.

If you trust your children to somebody, if you pay somebody to watch your children for a time, and then you come back and you find that that person has beaten your children into submission without permission, that person is going to have a very bad day. They are going to lose their job and they might even go to jail. Right? So just because you have it within your power to force someone into submission and just because God himself has given you a position of authority over that person does not mean you have permission to use excessive force in carrying out your duties. You are not allowed to assume the masters’ exclusive position by beating his servants for him. You may not lord it over the Lord’s servants — your correction of them must be gentle. Let me read it to you.

It says, “Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction; not for shameful profit but eagerly. And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:2-3 (NET) And that term “lord it over” is talking about forcing people into submission. Do not force them into submission.

Just the way that Jesus did it — he didn’t come down with his army the first time, and beat everybody that didn’t agree with him into submission, because what he wants to do is win our hearts over to the kingdom. Because nobody that doesn’t want to be a part of his kingdom can be part of it. He’s not going to build his kingdom on the backs of slaves. What he does is, if you don’t want to be part of his kingdom, you’re cast into outer darkness — you can’t be part of the kingdom. There’s nothing else out there you guys. This is it, this is the kingdom. This is life, this is eternal life — that’s your choice. But he will let you make the choice. So you’ve got to let people make the choice too, by giving them an example of love. People respond to love. Most people, when they see that kind of nobility that Jesus showed — when they see you doing that, when they see you giving your life away, being unselfish, being humble — people are thirsty to see that kind of noble leadership. They want to see it from you. They want to see a Jesus walking on this earth today, and that’s exactly what you are called to be. You’re called to be filled with the spirit of Christ – to do the things that Christ does.

2 Timothy 2:24-26, “And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes, but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and the knowledge of the truth, and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NET) You want to win them over, you don’t want to crush them into the ground.

So those of you who think you are like God’s fist, you are like the weapon that God uses to crush all of his foes and all the false teachers, and you’re going to be the one that implements that judgment — you’re going to feel the edge of Jesus’ sword, because you have not been given permission to beat the servants. Even if they’re wrong. You are supposed to correct them…how? With a sword? With harshness? No. Correct them with gentleness. This is consistent.

Those you serve are more important than you are. Let me read to you 1 Corinthians 3: 21-23, it says: “…For everything belongs to you, [this is talking to the people] whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.” 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 (NET). What is he saying? The person that’s set over you is set over you, and they have authority over you, but they belong to you. They’re for you. And why? Let me read it to you. Galatians 4:1-7.

It says, “Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.  So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world. But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.  And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!”  So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.” Galatians 4:1-7 (NET)
You’re hearing this over and over. Husbands, love your wives, be considerate of them and show them respect as fellow heirs with you. Paul says — Whether it’s Peter or me or Apollos — we all belong to you! The only reason we’ve been hired is because you’re so important to take care of. And everything is going to belong to you!
We’re only put in that position of having guardians and managers over us until we reach full maturity. But we are sons and daughters with full rights that are going to inherit the entire kingdom of God.

If you are a manager set over any people, anywhere; those are God’s people, not yours. You are the manager, not the master. Do not forget what your place is. Only Jesus is worthy of wielding the whip.

There’s only one lawgiver and judge according to James 4:11-12, let me just read it:

“Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters…” I want to just stop right there. Probably every single person on the board right now; if you really get honest with yourself, there’s somebody that you’re speaking against. Maybe it’s because you think that they’re too famous that it’s ever going to matter to them. Maybe it’s because you think that the person you’re talking about doesn’t count because they’re a wicked, or whatever. We always have compartments that we put the people that we want to slander into that makes it okay. It’s not OK. Especially against Christians. “Oh, they have the wrong doctrine.” Big deal, they belong to God. You think God’s not going to fix their wrong doctrine if they love God? Are you crazy? They’re sons and daughters of God. You better be careful how you talk about them. If you slander them, it’s going to harm them, and you’re going to be held accountable.

“Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.  But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge—the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4:11-12 (NET)

And then Romans 14:4 says, “Who are you to pass judgment on another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4 (NET).

So don’t think, like the Pharisees, that you are doing God a service by wielding Jesus’ whip for him. He is the only one who is worthy of wielding that whip, because he’s the only one who saved us, who is perfectly innocent of sin. The law can’t judge him because he is perfect. He never violated the law — you did. So how can you judge somebody else for their sin? You can’t. You’re not in the position to do it. You’re not in the position to wield his sword or wield his whip. You can’t make those judgments, and it hasn’t been given to you to do so. Just because you have power doesn’t mean you have permission. Who are you to pass judgment on another man’s servant?

Don’t think you’re doing God a service. John 16:2-3 says that that’s what the evil people will be doing. It says, “They will put you out of the synagogue…” talking about God’s real messengers, prophets and disciples. “They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me.” John 16:2-3 (NET) And this is what I want to point out to you — those of you who are beating the servants; those of you who are trying to force people into God’s way of doing things; those of you who are trying to force people into submission to yourself in order to get the things you want. The people who think that they’re doing God a service by harming other people are NOT the good guys.

Jesus gave us a new command. He said to love one another. There was a time when he sent Israel out to conquer their enemies, yes. But Jesus came and he said, “Now I want you to do what I’ve done. I want you to pick up your cross and follow me. I want you to love your enemies. If your enemy is in need, give him what he needs. If someone smacks you on the cheek, turn the other cheek.”

Understand, if you are beating anyone, you need to repent. If you’re forcing anyone into submission, you need to repent. Even if they’re a person that God has given you authority over, that doesn’t mean you’ve been given permission to do that.

Tonight we need to get honest with God and say, “God, I just want you to show me where I am doing anything wrong with the people you’ve entrusted me. I know that they don’t belong to me, that ultimately you are their Maker, and I will be held accountable to you for what I do to them.”

The parable that I read to you last week, Jesus was saying that this master said to an unfaithful servant, “…if you’re not faithful with somebody else’s property, why would you be given your own property?” Because when God gives you something, when God entrusts something to you, when he says “I’m going to give you something for eternity”, he doesn’t give you his leftovers. When God gives you a gift, he gives you his very best. So when he entrusts people to you, what he is saying is, “I’m giving my heart and soul to you. I’m giving you my most precious treasure to take care of.”

Look how much God trusts you, to give these people to you in your life. Appreciate today what God has given you. Maybe some of you are dissatisfied in your lives, and you’re dissatisfied with your family and your relationships. You need to just rub your eyes and wake up. Get dresses and ready for service. You can’t see clearly when you’re lying there on the bed and you’re not awake. You need to wake up spiritually. You need to wake up to God. You need to get up and take a shower and get clean. You need to go wash your face. You need to rub your eyes, and then you need to go look over at your wife or your husband, and see what they look like then. Because when you look at them through those eyes that God gives you, when he gives you clarity from the Word of God — when you wake up — then you’re going to see how valuable that person is.

Just because you can’t see that shine in the people that are in your lives, just because you can’t see the value of that relationship and it’s not satisfying you right now, that’s not what it’s about. You wake up. You do what God told you to do. You rub your eyes. You get sober. You get dressed and ready for service. And what you’re going to find is that all of a sudden you’re going to have eyes to see the value, the vast value of everything that has been entrusted to you. And the good news is, if you do a good job with that — you right now are not the master, you are just a manager — But God will give you your own inheritance to take care of for eternity.

Principles of God’s Kingdom

God’s kingdom is a kingdom of servant-rulers, modeled as a family.

God doesn’t force the submission of His Subjects. The citizens of His kingdom are free.

Forced submission creates slaves. A kingdom build on the backs of slaves is divided, and will eventually fall.

Bible Verses
Exodus 34:5b, 6b, 7a (NET)
Psalm 2:1a, 4, 6 (NET)
Jeremiah 22:13-17
Matthew 12:20 (NIV)
Matthew 24:45-46 (NET)
Matthew 24:48a, 49b-50a, 51b (NIV)
Matthew 26:52-53 (NET)
Luke 12:35-48 (NET)
Luke 23:34a (NET)
John 3:16 (NIV)
John 16:2-3 (NET)
Romans 8:2 (NET)
Romans 8:19, 21b (NIV)
Romans 14:4 (NET)
1 Corinthians 3:21-23 (NET)
Galatians 4:1-7 (NET)
Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)
Ephesians 5:22-25 (NET)
Ephesians 6:1, 4 (NET)
2 Timothy2:24-26 (NET)
James 4:11-12 (NET)
1 Peter 3:7
1 Peter 5:2-3 (NET)
1 John 3:16 (NIV)

________________________________________

Join us in preparing the world for the return of its soon-coming King, Jesus Christ!

________________________________________